<   MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE UPCOMING NINTH ANNUAL ICEFEST IN CHAMBERSBURG, PA.    This event is scheduled for January 27th – 30th, 2011 in downtown Chambersburg. It will be the biggest and best IceFest yet! This much anticipated winter festival features live ice carving and amazing ice sculptures, food vendors, extended business hours, Chili Cook off, Fireworks on Saturday and so much more!! With more sculptures, an expanded Chili Cook-off and additional food vendors and musical acts, area residents and out-of-town visitors to Chambersburg are sure to have an exciting time. Be sure to check out the awesome 40' Ice slide. Also new to IceFest activities this year: a Scavenger hunt to be held January 30, 2011, 12 pm to 4 pm at the Kerrstown Square Parking Lot This is a FREE event.   The... 01/26/2011

Hire a REALTOR® Studies show that homesellers who use a REALTOR® to represent them generally get a better price than those who sell the home themselves. REALTORS® are up-to-date on critical processes and can help keep you out of trouble. They can also help you get your home sold at the best price in the right timeframe. Equally as important, REALTORS® add objectivity to an inherently emotional transaction: the sale of your home. To locate a RE/MAX Sales Associate, visit the Find An Agent area of remax.com. Before Your Home Is Listed It's important to have your home in good showing condition before buyers start going through it. Here are some steps to take: Touch up interior and exterior paint as needed. Install new carpeting and flooring if it appears worn or dated. Make sure the front ... 03/12/2010

Contact a REALTOR® A RE/MAX Sales Associate can help you through the entire process of buying a home, starting with the mortgage and continuing right through closing - and beyond. He or she can help you shop for the best interest rate and terms and, if you wish, suggest mortgage lenders. Get Preapproved for a Loan Obtain a copy of your credit report and your FICO score and, if necessary, do what you need to do to improve it. The higher your FICO score, the better interest rate you can command. You can get this information online; your RE/MAX agent can also help you. Contact several lenders and determine which one will give you the best deal. Determine Your Price Range and Area(s) in Which You're Interested By now you should have a good idea of how much home you can afford. This helps yo... 03/12/2010

5 Steps to Buying Before Tax Credit Expires The expanded tax credit for U.S. homebuyers, which extends the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Credit and creates a new $6,500 credit for most repeat buyers, expires on July 1, 2010. As a buyer, you must be under contract by April 30 to make the deadline. This doesn't leave much time to start the buying process.To help you get in under the wire, Lisa Escue (CDPE), with RE/MAX Masters II in Grapevine, Texas outlines these steps:Step 1. Find a Local Lender You Can Talk To in PersonLocal lenders understand your market and know of loan programs that might be beneficial to you.Check with your lender on any local programs that might help with closing costs or in other ways. Even though the media have pronounced the 100-percent-financing option dead, thi... 02/12/2010

Now that there is a possibility of over 12" of snow in the Chambersburg area and some of the townships calling for Blizzard like conditions at times, I am postponing the Open Houses for 1229 Brechbill Road and 2226 Adin Lane in Chambersburg, PA. I will be rescheduling them so keep your eye out for the new date and time. Enjoy your SuperBowl Weekend. Stay Warm and Stay Safe. 02/04/2010

There was more trick or treating going on this Halloween then in the past 5 years, at least on our street. We ran out of candy half way through the night. My children had such fun especially at the houses that were decked out with skeletons and grave yards in the front yard. One street looked like they were having a decoration competition. There were lights, smoke filled bubbles floating by, creepy music and my youngest favorite, a full sized ape sitting on his front porch railing. Next year I will be prepared for the growing number of children, and maybe I too will join in on the decoration competition.       11/02/2009

  Steve Spray| RE/MAX Realty Agency | stevespray@remax.net | (717)267-0011 or (717)729-6894 1129 BRECHBILL ROAD Chambersburg, PA OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25th  1-3 PM Directions: From Chambersburg, West on Route 30, Right on Sollenberger Road, left on Brechbill Road, Home on Right   3BR/2.5BA Single Family House   offered at $214,400 Year Built 2009 Sq Footage 1,978 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size .52 acres HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Seller is offering upto $5,000 in seller assistance to qualified buyer with an acceptable offer. NEW CONSTRUCTION nearing completion. Call, Text or E-mail us to learn more.     see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Central A/C - Living room - Dining room - Stove/Oven - Yard  - Heat Pump - Wa... 10/21/2009

I'm hosting an Open House this Sunday for one of my Sellers.  However, in my humble opinion, Open Houses are very quickly losing their effectiveness for Sellers.  With multiple pictures of most homes being published on the internet, potential homebuyers can view the houses being held open in advanced of the published Open House date.   Oh well, I'll catch up on my reading on Sunday.  I do suggest, however, that Buyers, that I represent, not attend Open Houses for the following  two basic reasons: •1)      It's in their interest to not have the listing agent be able to see what motivations them.  Even subtle facial expressions can give away the buyer's preferences and indicate what is important to them.  Little things can make all the difference when in the middle of a negotiation to pur... 10/15/2009

I'm putting together a consumer friendly website for home buyers in the Franklin County, PA area.   It allows potential buyers to search all available homes in Chambersburg, PA  through our Multiple Listing service.  The inability to obtain accurate, current, and complete information about houses in Chambersburg has historically frustrated the buying public.  Additionally, I'm including links to some of the most commonly used loan programs (VA, FHA, PHFA, etc.).   http://SteveSpray.net  What did that old commercial say?  "Try it, you'll like it!" 10/02/2009

After showing a few houses in Chambersburg, PA this past week, it dawned on me that there are many first time home buyers that still don't understand the "First Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit" being offered under this year's Federal Government's stimulus program.   As an example, I was showing a lady, who was much my senior, a home that would be perfect for her.  When I mentioned the tax credit to see if she thought she was eligible she said, "I did own my own home some years ago.  So, NO - I'm not a first time home buyer."   She did not understand that to be considered a first time homebuyer you only could not have owned a home for the last three years.  But time is running out.  Unless the current incentive is extended, a buyer will need to have settled on their new home by November 30t... 10/01/2009

Don't let your dryer start a fire; keep your home safe and sound.  Dryer Vent Wizard professionally inspects and cleans clothing dryers for homeowners and in commercially-owned buildings. Poorly maintained dryer vents cause fire hazards and cost substantially more to operate.   Why Dryer Vent Cleaning is so Important! •·                     Dryer vents clogged with lint cost $18-24 more per month. •·                     There are 15,500 fires every year caused by dryer vents. •·                     Dryer manufacturers recommend you clean your dryer vent every year. •·                     Regular dryer vent maintenance prolongs the life of your dryer.   Our services include: •·                     Dryer vent cleaning •·                     Dryer vent repair •·                     Dryer v... 09/20/2008

1st Time Home Buyers   At S&A Homes we know that you want the most value for your money, the lowest possible payments, best financing options, a buying experience that is easy and straight forward, and a trained caring professional to guide you through the process. We’ve Put It All Together – For You! Our Mountain Shadows community is perfect because we have selected 8 beautiful homes and packaged them on beautiful home sites at a price that will make you smile. And, we have put together a complete home / land / options / financing package that will make your new home buying experience fun and affordable.   Complete Home & Land Packages Starting At Only $192,900             We keep our homes affordable with-out sacrificing quality and features. Complete Whirlpool Appliance Package So y... 02/11/2008